The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-06-17
The Rebel Flags to be Returned to
the Southern States by Order
Of the President.

koe SsSpeA AdBS 70 % HevuToeu w
the Southern States by Order
Of the President.
New YORK, June 15:-"May God
palsy the hand that wrote the order"
"May God palsy the brain that
conceived. and may God palsy the
tongue that dictated it." a7slf ., .11
Grand Army of the Republic vet
Grams heard these words with bated
breath, and glanced at each other
with awe as the terrible sentences
rang out from the COMMUNICATIVE hief
of the Grand Army of the Republic
tonight, in Association Hall, Harlem.
The occasion was reception ten.
dered to The COMMUNICATIVE chief by
Alexander Hamilton Post No I82 G.
A R.
Visitors were present from every
Grand Army Post of this city and
vicinity. A. M. Underhill presided.
Among those present were Senior
Vice Department commander Latter
ty, Junior Vice commander Charles
Hall Grant, Past State commander
Hedges, of Haverstraw, and corporal
Tanner. sfss
Before the meeting opened it be-
came known that Gen Ross, of Aus
tin, Texas, had received letter from
the adjutant general of the United
States army, stating that the President
had approved the recommendation
and the writer had been instructed
TO.
RETURN ALL THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS
in the care of the Department to the
Southern States, from whose regi.
ments the flags had been captured
during the war of the rebellion.
General Fairchild entered the hall
with stern, set features. Hardly wait
for the usual courtesies, the one armed
leader burst forth with the express
sions recorded above. The General
told of the news received by telegraph
that the President had approved Of
the return Of the rebel flags, and how
those flags had been won by the
veterans of the Grand Army of the
Republic in open conflict with the
enemies of the Nation. The veterans
had placed their trophies in the care
of the War department. They were
intended, he said, to be kept In the
archives of the Nation as mementoes
of hard won fields of battle. "
He continued: "How can the pres
ent loyal Governors OF the Southern
States accept emblems of treason
after their professions of loyalty to
the Unionl Must they not return
them to the Secretary and say that
they have nothing to do with the
flags, as the rebel organizations are
extinct and their Governors are
dead!" i3yt99 q Ft-lsla1SsiG (,
General Fairchild said that he had
frequently listened to sentiments
which caused him to bite his tongue
in the effort to maintain self.control.
In nine months past he had visited
G. A. R. posts in every State in the
north, east and west. He had never in
any post meeting heard anything but
kindly feelings expressed toward the
men who had locked into the gun
barrels OF Northern troops during the
war. AS Commander-ln. Chief he
had tried to encourage this kindly
feeling. Now this was changed.
The time. had come to speak in the
name of the organization. If he
could not protest against il as Com
mander-in- Chief of the Grand Army
of the Republic, he would resign and
protest as private citizen. But he
was satisfied that $50, 700 Grand
Army veterans would rise as one
man in solemn protest against any
such disposition of the trophies won
at such fearful sacrifice of blood.
Raising his only hand the General
said: 81 appeal to the sentiment of
the Nation to forbid this sacrilege."
There was moments silence; then
wild hurrah went up and was re-
peated and continued.